Plant procures, roasts and packages green coffee, including the
hallmark Indian Espresso Roast

February 08, 2013 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

KUSHALNAGAR, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a key partnership milestone between Starbucks Coffee Company
(Nasdaq:SBUX) and Tata Coffee Limited, the two companies today
inaugurated a roasting and packaging plant in Kushalnagar in Coorg,
Karnataka. This world-class facility enables roasting and packaging of
green coffee beans for Starbucks stores in India and over time in select
markets around the globe.

“The inauguration of the roasting plant in India represents a
significant milestone for Starbucks and Tata Coffee. Through our
partnership we will leverage the deep coffee heritage and expertise of
both companies to procure, roast and distribute the finest-quality
arabica coffees, elevating the story of India coffee to our
customers”

“The inauguration of the roasting plant in India represents a
significant milestone for Starbucks and Tata Coffee. Through our
partnership we will leverage the deep coffee heritage and expertise of
both companies to procure, roast and distribute the finest-quality
arabica coffees, elevating the story of India coffee to our
customers,” said John Culver, president, Starbucks Coffee China and
Asia Pacific. “This deepens our sourcing relationship with India’s
coffee farmers and further demonstrates our long-term commitment to
sourcing high-quality arabica coffee. Great coffee starts with
finding the finest beans and roasting them to perfection. Together with
Tata we are delivering a great tasting, high-quality, and locally
sourced espresso to our customers throughout India.”

Commenting on the inauguration, Hameed Huq, Managing Director, Tata
Coffee, said, “We are delighted to partner with Starbucks and
operationalize this important roasting facility. The plant leverages our
combined strengths and passion for sharing the finest-quality coffees
with customers. This momentous occasion signifies a milestone
development in our relationship with Starbucks as we roast and package
our locally sourced Espresso Roast and prepare to export roasted and
packaged coffees to select markets.”

This facility, spread across 8,258 sq. ft. with an installed capacity of
375 metric tonnes (MT), has been readied for commercial run. In addition
to the state-of-the-art roaster, the plant also has a PLC-operated green
coffee handling system for effective control of recipe, and automatic
filling and automatic sealing line boosted with high-precision testing
equipment to comply with the quality standards of the companies. The
operations are well supported by an efficient utilities section and
sophisticated equipment, and boasts of the best-in-class safety systems.
The plant has three major sections – a Green Coffee Storage and Handling
section, a Roasting section, and a Packing and Dispatch section. These
three sections combined produce the finest-quality coffee beans;
consistent with the high quality Starbucks and Tata are known for around
the globe.

Starbucks and Tata Coffee are committed to developing and improving the
profile of Indian-grown arabica coffees around the world by
elevating the stature of Indian coffee, as well as improving the quality
of coffee through sustainable practices. As a first step toward this,
the companies have developed the Indian Espresso Roast, which is a
hallmark feature of Starbucks stores in India and highlights the quality
of locally sourced coffee.

Starbucks and Tata share a commitment to community. To this end,
Starbucks and Tata Global Beverages will work with Tata Coffee to invest
in coffee-growing communities with a specific focus on agronomy,
sustainable farming practices and a partnership to extend the Swastha
Project’s Community Based Rehabilitation Programme to cover differently
abled children in Kodagu, Karnataka. Working together the companies will
focus on initiatives including but not limited to, the promotion of
responsible agronomy practices and the provision of training local
farmers, technicians and agronomists to improve their coffee-growing and
milling skills, along with exploring social projects, which could
positively impact the communities in the coffee-growing regions where
they do business.

About Starbucks

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically
sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the
world. Today, with more than 18,000 stores around the globe, the company
is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world.
Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding
principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for
every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please
visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.

About Tata Coffee

Tata Coffee is a subsidiary of Tata Global Beverages. It is Asia’s
largest coffee plantation company and the 3rd largest
exporter of instant coffee in the country. The Company produces more
than 10,000 MT of shade-grown Arabica and Robusta coffees at its 19
estates in South India and its two Instant Coffee manufacturing
facilities have a combined installed capacity of 6000 MT. It exports
green coffee to countries in Europe, Asia, Middle East and North
America. Tata Coffee’s farms are triple certified: Utz, Rainforest
Alliance and SA8000 reinforcing its commitment to the people and the
environment.

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